Daylight saving

“Daylight saving” is found to reduce the total output of certain central stations and of one gas company by about 3 per cent during the seven summer months. Reduction in output for lighting alone is found to average 8 per cent. Applying these fragmentary data to the country as a whole there is estimated an annual saving by the public of $19,250,000 in expenditure for artificial light and a reduction of about 495,000 tons per annum in consumption of coal. The principal advantages of “Daylight saving” are promotion of outdoor recreation, saving in expenditure for artificial light and saving of fuel. Disadvantages are experienced principally by farmers, dairymen, truck gardeners and miners. Economic losses probably far outweigh the gains. Custom in allocating hours for work, sleep and play has been evolved through experience. It is undesirable to alter it by arbitrary legislation. Since advancement of clocks, while serving the interests of one part of the population, has proved so disadvantageous to another part as to compel return to correct time, it seems obvious that those who benefit by advanced time in summer should adjust their habits as desired without disturbing the practise of the remainder of the population.